The person who had been placed in police custody on Monday in the investigation into the origin of the fire still in progress in Landiras in Gironde was released this night around 1 a.m. “The expertise, analysis of the elements collected and hearings carried out, putting it out of the question”, specifies the Bordeaux prosecutor’s office, adding: “The investigations are continuing within the framework of the flagrante delicto which has been extended for eight additional days”, according to the prosecutor’s office which favors the “criminal thesis”.
The investigation was opened for “destruction by fire of wood, forest, moor, maquis or plantation of others which could cause damage to people” committed in the town of Landiras had specified at the beginning of the week, the prosecutor Frédérique Porterie.
The man, a 39-year-old Girondin, had already been heard for similar facts. He had been suspected of “destruction of forest by incendiary substance” in a case finally dismissed in 2014 in “lack of convincing evidence”, according to the prosecution.
A report
This suspect had been arrested following a report. “On July 12, at 4:25 p.m., a mechanic who was traveling with his daughter observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road which quickly drove off in his sight. When he arrived at the parking lot, the witness noticed that the fire was spreading. He stopped and tried in vain to turn it off, ”explained the prosecutor.
The investigators made a connection between this disaster and “other fire starts observed in the same area on the same day but at different times”, as well as for “three other fire starts observed between July 13 and 15 ” , “quickly circumscribed”.
The Landiras fire 40 km south of Bordeaux has now destroyed 13,600 hectares of forest since July 12.